O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
Parallel translations
- WEB Israel, your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places.
- BSB Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins.
- NKJV O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts.
- NASB Israel, your prophets have been like jackals among ruins.
- NLT “O people of Israel, these prophets of yours are like jackals digging in the ruins.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel's false prophets are like foxes among ruins—scavenging and destructive rather than protective.
Overview
The image of foxes prowling waste places pictures prophets who exploit the nation's brokenness instead of repairing it. Rather than guarding the flock, they undermine it for their own gain. True shepherds build up; these scatter and consume.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Rev 19:20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
- Gal 2:4And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
- 2 Th 2:9–10Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
- Song 2:15Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
- Eph 4:14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
- Rom 16:18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
- Rev 13:11–14And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
- Mic 2:11If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
- Mic 3:5Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
- 2 Cor 11:13–15For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
- Matt 7:15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
- 1 Tim 4:1–2Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
- Titus 1:10–12For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 13:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.